A typeface is the visual representation or interpretation of a set of characters; it is their appearance.

Body text refers to the majority of text in a composition. Its job is to be steady so that other things – like wayfinding signals and eye-catching headings – can stand out. Body text is most successful when it is unobtrusive, yet its tone can inspire the expressive qualities of other elements and the composition as a whole.

Choosing typefaces is an integral part of every web design project. With thousands of typefaces available from hosting services such as Typekit, as well an ever-improving collection of free fonts available, there has never been a better time to be a typography-obsessed web designer.